GB2043472A - Toys - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention is for a toy in which a vehicle is driven cyclically around a tubular circuit by means of a pneumatic pump 13, and proposes the inclusion of a one-way valve 12 connected between the circuit and pump, this valve normally being open to the circuit, but operable to close the circuit unidirectionally in response to pump actuation. The valve can be of simple flap form with a flap normally suspended across the pump inlet to the circuit, but swung upwardly against an abutment to close the circuit under pump pressure. The circuit can be closed or open, the gap in the latter case preferably being downstream with a largely downward return circuit portion thereafter towards the valve to ensure vehicle inertia to pass through the valve. The vehicle can cross a circuit gap in free flight or be guided, and both these modes can be provided by a common component with valve selection of alternative circuit sections. A duplicated assembly of circuit, valve and pump allows race competition, and gaps in the two circuits can intersect to allow mutual interference between competitors by vehicle collision. Other forms of special features, including interference, are possible. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Toys This invention concerns toys and more particularly toys in which a vehicular body is driven cyclically around a tubular circuit by means of a pneumatic pump.

Such toys have been proposed previously but do not appear to have been commercially successful and it is thought that this has arisen from a lack of simplicity and/or economy, particularly in respect of the arrangements whereby the pneumatic propulsion has been controlled.

According to the present invention there is provided a toy comprising an elongate tubular conduit defining a circuit, a vehicular body locatable in said conduit for passage around said circuit, a pneumatic pump for propelling said body around said circuit and a one-way valve connected between said circuit and said pump, said valve normally being open to said circuit, but being operable to close said circuit unidirectionally in response to actuation of said pump.

In practice the valve of the present invention is of simple flap form with its flap normally suspended under gravity across the pump inlet to the conduit, but operable by positive air pressure from the pump to swing upwardly against an abutment in the conduit to close the latter unidirectionally. The pump thus operates to cause air movement in a predetermined direction around the circuit and will propel the vehicular body accordingly, the body passing through the valve by virtue of its inertia when suitably propelled.

The circuit can, of course, form a closed circuit and in this case it may be appropriate to vent the conduit towards the return end of the circuit relative to the pump.

However, operation with an open circuit is also possible with adjacent portions of the conduit being aligned for passage of the body across a gap therebetween. Indeed, such alignment is not essential since the body can be caused to follow a curved path between the adjacent conduit portions by the provision of a suitable non-tubular guide. Insofar as the provision of an open circuit will normally entail a loss of propulsion pressure, the opening is preferably located towards the return end of the circuit, suitably adjacent to a final, downwardly directed conduit portion whereby, once across the gap, the body is assured of sufficient gravitational inertia to complete the circuit and pass through the valve.

While the proposed toy can be used for play by an individual it preferably involves a duplicate assembly for competitive operation between two individuals. Normally such a duplicate assembly will involve the use of pumps which are variably operable so that the different operational control abilities of individuals adds to the competition. Also, other features are preferably incorporated whereby action by one individual can interfere with the performance of the other individual.

Such other features typically involve an open circuit with the possibility for interfering action occurring as a body crosses the opening.

Competitive features, such as some of those just discussed, can equally be applied to a single circuit toy.

Also, while the toy may be made in a readyassembled form, it is more likely in practice that the toy will be made available as a selfassembly kit of component parts. This reflects similar practice with model railway sets and like toys, and has the advantage that one or more basic kits can be made available in association with separate components and accessory kits to allow extension and modification of a basic circuit.

A further consideration arising from the provision of a self-assembly kit form of the toy is that the kit may be operated when partially assembled and eject a vehicular body as a projectile with consequent risk of injury to a bystander. It may accordingly be appropriate that at least some kit components comprise a tubular portion with a free end having a flexible distortion or addition which inhibits body exit therefrom at hazardous speed, but which is suitably displaced upon connection with a further component to allow free body travel.

Lastly, among more general consideration of the presentiy proposed toy, it will be evident that the tubular conduit is of substantially uniform internal cross-sectional form with the vehicular body as a clearance fit for passage therethrough. Also, the conduit will normally be wholly or predominantly transparent whereby the progress of the body therethrough can be visually monitored, although the conduit can involve opaque sections.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, the same will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 schematically illustrates one embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 similarly illustrates a flap valve of Fig. 1 but in more detail, Figures 3 and 4 schematically illustrate in different views another component of Fig. 1, Figure 5 illustrates yet another portion of Fig. 1, and Figure 6 illustrates a modification for part of Fig. 1.

The embodiment of Figs. 1 to 5 comprises duplicated assemblies for competitive play between two individuals using respective ones of the assemblies simultaneously, but the assem blies are of mirror-image form and it is conve nient for the most part to illustrate and describe only one assembly more fully. Also, it will be understood that in a commercial form this embodiment will normally be subjected to various embellishments and ornamentation, such as to portray a 'space' environment with the vehicular bodies, representing rockets, but the present illustration is simplified for convenience.

Considering the more fully illustrated assembly as shown in Fig. 1, this comprises various elongate tubular members 10 interconnecting a number of components, further described below, to define an overall circuit, and a vehicle 11, one-way flap valve 12, and a pump 1 3 as mentioned above. The overall circuit includes a common section 14 which can be selectively connected with either one of two further sections 1 5 and 1 6 by operation of a circuit selector valve 1 7. The common circuit section incorporates the valve and pump connections, and also an access means 1 8 for entry and removal of a vehicular body to and from the circuit.Each of the further circuit sections 1 5 and 1 6 incorporates a component 1 9 which is partly open to atmosphere and so vents the overall circuit, the sections 1 5 and 1 6 employing respectively different operational characteristics of the component 1 9. One of the further circuit sections, 16, also incorporates a further, closed chamber component 20.

The embodiment of Fig. 1 is supported by a base 21, in which the flap valve 12, pump 13, parts of circuit sections 14, 1 5 and 16, circuit selector valve 17, and access means 1 8 are housed for each assembly.

The tubular members 10 can be of any appropriate form, be it straight, curved, or both, to suit the desired circuit configuration and are adapted for interconnection, mutually and/or with the other components, by the provision of simple male-to-female push-fit formations. Moulded plastics material construction of these members, and indeed others of the components, will allow provision of the desired generally uniform and smooth interiors, and allows the use of transparent and opaque members and components.

The vehicle 11 is equally of any suitable form and construction to provide the desired dimensions allowing propulsion around the circuit, and again moulded plastics construction will normally be appropriate. The vehicle preferably has greater length than transverse dimensions to better allow simulation of rockets or other real vehicles, and this conveniently entails the use of a plurality of vehicle portions interconnected by push-fit ball-andsockets joints or in some other generally pivotal manner to allow passage of the vehicle around bends in the circuit without requiring undue clearance.

The flap valve 1 2 is shown separately in Fig. 2 and comprises a block 22 having a main passageway, 23 therethrough and a transverse passageway 24 communicating with the main passageway. In addition, the main passageway has an internal diametral flange 25 adjacent one side of which is hinged a flap 26. It will be noted that the flap valve is connected in an upright portion of the circuit in Fig. 1 with the flap depending over the inner end of the transverse passageway, and that the flap can pivot upwardly to abut the flange and so close the main passageway.

The interior of this valve will, of course, be suitably dimensioned to allow such pivotal movement of the flap in a free manner, while allowing free passage of the vehicle through the main passageway when the flap depends over the transverse passageway.

The pump 1 3 is of any convenient manually operable form, such as concertina form with an operating handle 27. The pump is provided with respectively oppositely operating oneway inlet and outlet valves 28 and 29, the latter being connected by a hose 30 to the outer end of the transverse passageway of the flap valve. When the pump is operated, pressurised air pushes the flap of valve 1 2 upwardly against the flange 25 to close the main passageway and to produce a unidirectional flow of air around the circuit section 14.

The circuit selector valve 1 7 comprises a block 31 having a 90 curved passageway 32 therethrough. The block is located with one end of this passageway longitudinally slidably coupled with a tubular member at the downstream end of circuit section 14, and with the face of the block in which the other end of the passageway opens in sliding engagement with the face of a further block 33 in which are located inlet ends for circuit sections 1 5 and 16. The block 31 is slidable over block 33 by way of a lever 34 and is controlled by an over-centre spring 35 to locate the passageway 32 in communication with the circuit section 15 or 16.

The access means 18 simply involves the provision of a hinged or slidable portion in the circuit which can be opened in order to enter or remove a vehicle.

The component 1 9 is in the general form of a dome shown separately in side and plan schematic views in Figs. 3 and 4. The dome comprises a generally hemispherical shell 36 mounted with its open mouth facing downwardly and with an inward flange 37 disposed around the mouth. An inlet port 38 is connected to the dome exterior adjacent the flange, this port having a passageway 39 therethrough to enter the dome generally radially. Another inlet port 40 is similarly connected but has a passageway 41 to enter the dome generally tangentially. Opposite to the inlet port is a single outlet port 42 with a passageway 43 leading downwardly through the flange, and to one side of this port is located a deflector 44 upstanding from the flange.

In use of the component 1 9 the inlet passa geway 39, is connected to the first circuit section 1 5 and, with the circuit selector valve coupled with this section to apply pressurised air thereto, the vehicle can be propelled freely across the same to strike the opposite curved shell and deflect into the outlet port. The vehicle must, of course, be propelled with sufficient velocity for this purpose otherwise it falls from the dome. The second inlet passa geway 41 is connected to the second circuit section 1 6 and, with the circuit selector valve coupled with this section, the vehicle can be propelled tangentially around the dome inter ior, riding on the flange 37, to strike the deflector member 42 and be guided thereby into the outlet port.Again sufficient entry velocity is required for the vehicle to effect this manoeuvre.

It is to be noted that the dome component 1 9 is employed not only in each of circuit sections 1 5 and 16, but also by each of the two assemblies in the embodiment of Fig. 1.

This is indicated in Fig. 4 in which duplicate mirror image passageways denoted as 39a and 41 a are incorporated in inlet ports 38 and 40, and a corresponding outlet port 42a, passagway 43a and deflector 44a are shown in Fig. 3. The two free flight paths intersect to allow vehicle collision.

Insofar as passage of a vehicle through circuit section 1 5 involves travel from one side of the overall embodiment to the other across the dome component 19, it is appropriate to reverse this elsewhere so that the vehicle returns to its original side. This is conveniently effected by the provision of a sinuous or other suitable tubular member 45 in the upright portion of section 1 5 leading to the dome component, this member being formed or linked with the corresponding member 45a of the duplicate assembly to form a stiff upright serving as an additional ground support member as shown in Fig. 5. The upright portions leading into circuit sections 1 6 and its duplicate can also form part of this support.

The remaining component 20, in circuit section 16, is a closed chamber having its lower portion in the form of a funnel, with its inlet entering at the top of this portion to propel a vehicle therearound in the general manner of the peripheral pathway through the dome component, and with its outlet lowermost. Clearly, passage of a vehicle through component 20 can be quicker at a slower velocity to avoid the repetitive rotation therein under centrifugal force at higher velocity, and so a further degree of operator control is required. The component 20 is suitably opaque to mask this effect.

The overall operation of the embodiment of Fig. 1 will be evident from the above description and this can revolve around a race between individuals operating the two assemblies, with the circuit selector switch being changed over alternately or in other predeter mined manner.

It has been indicated earlier, and is to be emphasised, that the drawings illustrate the invention only by way of example. It is clearly evident that many variations are possible within the scope of the appendent claims. For example, one variation is shown by the modification of Fig. 6 for the upper portion of the circuit section 14. In Fig. 6 this circuit section incorporates a return path for the vehicle back towards its starting point if excessively propelled, successful operation requiring a controlled lesser velocity allowing the vehicle to drop into the continuing part of the circuit.

The possibility of other variations arise from consideration of the dome component operation. Clearly an alternative or additional circuit section can involve vehicle travel upwardly into the dome and around its roof interior.

Also insofar as a vehicle can jump a gap in an open circuit, other forms of interference than mutual vehicle collision are possible. For example, interfererence can be by way of an air blast from a competitor's pump, but suitably by way of a manually controllable valve so that the competitor loses air drive to his own vehicle. Other examples of interference can involve the projection of missiles, other than his own vehicle, by a competitor.

Another variation can involve the conveyance of a load by the vehicle around its circuit, such a load being of saddle form to drop on to a necked portion of the vehicle.

Arrangements for automatic pick-up and deposit of such loads are possible.

Also, it may be appropriate to incorporate lap counters for competitive play, and such counters can be generally similar to those known in model road race games with a sprung actuating member projecting into the path of a vehicle for operation thereby in passing.

Claims (14)

1. A toy comprising an elongate tubular conduit defining a circuit, a vehicular body locatable in said conduit for passage around said circuit, a pneumatic pump for propelling said body cyclically around said circuit, and a one-way valve connected between said circuit and said pump, said valve normally being open to said circuit, but being operable to close said circuit unidirectionally in response to actuation of said pump.

2. A toy according to claim 1 wherein said valve is of flap form with its flap normally suspended under gravity across the pump inlet to said circuit, but operable by positive air pressure from the pump to swing upwardly against an abutment in the conduit to close the latter unidirectionally.

3. A toy according to claim 1 to 2 wherein said circuit is vented to atmosphere in a downstream portion thereof relative to the air flow therearound caused by said pump.

4. A toy according to claim 3 wherein said circuit has a gap therein to provide said venting and across which said vehicle can pass in free flight, the downstream portion of said circuit relative to said gap being largely downwardly directed to said valve.

5. A toy according to claim 3 wherein said circuit has a gap therein to provide said venting and guide means to track said vehicle across said gap in a non-iinear path, the downstream portion of said circuit relative to said gap being largely downwardly directed to said valve.

6. A toy according to claims 4 and 5 wherein said circuit comprises a common component defining a first gap for said free vehicle flight thereacross, a second gap and guide for said tracked vehicle travel thereacross, separate first and second circuit sections leading respectively to said first and second gaps, and a circuit selector valve operable to selectively communicate one of said first and second circuit sections with a common circuit section including said one-way valve and pump connection.

7. A toy according to any preceding claim wherein said circuit comprises an enlarged closed chamber having an inlet for said vehicle leading into the top of a lower portion for said chamber of generally funnel form with an outlet for said vehicle at the bottom thereof.

8. A toy according to any preceding claim wherein said circuit comprises access means including a circuit element movable to expose the adjacent conduit interior and thereby allow entry and removal of said vehicle to and from said circuit.

9. A toy according to any preceding claim wherein said pump is manually variably controllable in operation.

10. A toy according to any preceding claim wherein said circuit is predominantiy transparent.

11. A toy according to claims 7 and 10 wherein said closed chamber chamber is opaque.

1 2. A toy according to any preceding claim comprising variably operable means for interfering with the passage of said vehicle around said circuit.

1 3. A toy according to any preceding claim comprising a duplicate assembly of said circuit, valve and pump.

14. A toy according to claim 4 or 6, and claim 13, wherein the respective free flight gaps of the duplicated assemblies intersect.

1 5. A toy substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.